Roving Jack, The Pirate Hunter — page 91: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ROVING JACK, THE PIRATE HUNTER, 111 therefore, between the alternatives—either accede to my demand, or be for ever disgraced.” ‘‘ May all the direst plagues that ever cursed the earth await on thee, thou devil!’ exclaimed Gon- zalvo, a8 he took np the pen. “Your signature,’ again exclaimed Juan, as he pointed to the paper with a demoniac grin, “or your own servants shall be the first to learn the true character of the master whom they serve.” Gonzalvo, trembling with frenzied agitation, hastily signed the paper, then started up, and ad- vancing towards the door, exclaimed, © Wretch, begone, and never let me see you more !” | “ Signor, you shall have your wish,” repiied Juan, as he cooly folded up the paper. ‘“‘ Should I at any future time want the aid of your purse, I[ will not come myself, I will send Alvarez—my friend Alva- rez—Alvarez, your rival,” . With these words he rushed inio the street_and instantly disappeared, Gonzalvo sent all the servants to rest, and rushing into his private chamber, loaded a brace of pistols, and throwing his cloak over his shoulders, quitted the mansion by a door which opened to the garden at the back, by which means he hoped to overtake Juan and wreak his vengeance on him, From the moment he had been compelled to sign the paper, he had come to a resolution that Juan should not live to reap the benefits of it, Gonzalvo was fully aware of the danger that at- tended his murderous project. He knew the power which the relatives of Juan possessed in Spain, as well as the danger of embroiling himself with his old associates, and he therefore determined to sacrifice his victim secretly. / Juan had also acted with some discretion, or at least with. a determination that Gonzalvo. should not escape if he assassinated him, for he had given a letter to his servant with strict orders to present it to Alyarez should he not return home at mid- night. ~The contents of this letter would state that if he should not see him within an hour, he might con- clftde he had been assassinated by Gonzalvo. It was near midnight when Gonzalvo reached the strada. IGE He listened. for awhile, all was quiet; he. pro- ceeded a little further—he paused—a footstep. was heard at some little distance ; he retired behind the pillar of a portico near at hand; the footsteps ap- proached—it was Juan, ~“ Perish, most execrable villain!” exclaimed Gonzalvo, as he fired the pistol at his head. Juan reeled and fell. Gonzalvo instantly tore open his vest, and tri- umphantly plucked from thence the paper which Juan had that evening forced him to sign. The report of the pistol had alarmed some of the inbabitants, and Gonzalvo, knowing that his safety depended:on his reaching bome ;beforehisrab-ence could bé noticed, siatched up the pistol and hurried away. He reached the garden gate, through whieh he passed unobserved, proceeded to the chamber, re- placed his cloak and pistols, and retired to his room without any of the servants being aware that he had been from home, . Juan haying failed to return home at midnight, his servant delivered the letter to Alvarez. Two hours had passed, and accordingly, he, with a party. of friends, set out in search of him. They observed several people gathered round a wounded man. They approached, and, to their surprise and horror, beheld the corpse of Juan. They loudly exclaimed against Gonzalyo, whom they designated as his murderer. One man among them, who had the appearance of a mariner, had picked up the pistol which lay near the body, and hearing the name of Gonzalvo, seemed to recognise it, *“Gonzalyo |” exclaimed he, ‘‘ Surely I know that name,” At the instant Alvarez and his party weuld have proceeded in a body to Gonzalyo’s house, but were restrained by the mariner. “Don’t be too hasty,” said he; “this affairseems to be wrapt in mystery, and it may be difficult to fix the charge of murder on Gonzalyo, I know him; let me go to him alone, and I shall, perhaps, be able to elicit enough to criminate him,” Alvarez and his friends agreed to this, and Ovieda (that was the mariner’s name) arrived at the man- sion of Gonzalvo next morning, and, with some difficulty, obtained an interview. When Gonzalvo entered the chamber, his countenance was pale and haggard, his step faltered, and his eye glanced keenly but fearfully on Ovieda. ‘‘Friend Gonzalvo,” said the mariner, ““you do not seem to recollect me. Have you quite forgotten your old acquaintance, Ovieda?” Gonzalvo drew back in horror. “Nay,” continued Ovieda ; “ you have nothing to fear from me, I trouble myself little about land affairs now. It is full ten years since I have been on terra firma. I have made the sea my residence ; 1 have as fine a vessel as ever stemmed the wave, and I mean to live and die in her. But my time is short ; I must be on board again before night. I have come to warn you of danger, and to teach you how to avoid it.” He paused, and looked round. ‘Are we alone? Are there any listeners ?”’ ‘*No,’’ replied Gonzalvo ; “speak low, and no one can overhear you.” * Listen, then,” said Ovieda; ‘“‘ Juan has been murdered, and suspicion points at you.” “At me?” exclaimed Gonzalyo, in agitation. ‘‘ My servants can bear witness that I did not leave the house the whole evening,” “T dare say they will,” rejoined Ovieda; “but there is one circumstance which you will find it difficult to get over. This pistol, which has been recently discharged, and which laid near the body of the murdered man, bears a handsome silver plate, on which your name is engraved,” Gonzalvo stood motionless. Ovieda had, indeed, spoken truly ; for at the mo- ment he took the papers from the open vest of Juan, his pistols fell out, and, the night being dark, he had by mistake, taken one,of Juan’s pistols, and left his own in its stead, “ Signor,’ said Ovieda, ‘you see I. know the whole of the matter, and I am the only one, who can fix the murder‘on you. Come, I will not be unreason- able. I don’t want to see you mount)the scaffold through my means, nor can I suffer such a golden opportunity as this to escape. You are rich. Share your purse with me, as I have formerly done with you, and for the present, I will conceal you from CONNICOOOLKS CO